Sometimes we all use the term "hero" too indiscriminately in an era of media hype and sports fanaticism, but Rutherford County lost a true hero last week — Josh Osborne.

Osborne would have been a hero just because he survived extreme child abuse, but he was able to do so much more.

He became an advocate for every other child who is a victim of child abuse, and he successfully lobbied to add starvation and dehydration, which he had suffered, to child-abuse crimes in Tennessee with passage of the Josh Osborne Law.

As an infant, Osborne also was the youngest recipient of a heart transplant in the state, and he continued to battle health problems, particularly kidney disease, after his rescue from his abusive father and stepmother.

Osborne was an inspiration for all who came into contact with him.

After he earned his diploma at La Vergne High School, Osborne went to work at Goodwill, and in 2009 he received recognition as the Goodwill Retail Employee of the Year.

We offer our condolences to Osborne's aunt, Tammy Dozier, and her husband, Chris, of La Vergne; other members of his family; and his friends. We commend the Doziers for their care for Osborne after his rescue.

For many the abuse that Osborne underwent is unimaginable and unconscionable. Those who committed such cruel acts against Osborne now are free from prison, but we do not think they ever will be free from their heinous acts.

Murfreesboro is fortunate to have a Child Advocacy Center that serves children who have been abused and also works with non-offending parents, grandparents and family members. Representatives of law-enforcement agencies, child-protection services, the judicial system and medical and mental-health agencies work together on child-abuse cases and services for child-abuse victims.

We commend these efforts and urge financial support for the center and other agencies that provide aid to child-abuse victims. Donations to these agencies in Osborne's memory would be appropriate.

We also recommend support for agencies that provide parent-education services, so negligence does not create dangerous situations for newborns and young children.

Failure to provide adequate care for children, whether intentional or not, needs community attention and action.

Osborne, in his short life, helped to focus community attention on child abuse, and his loss came much, much too soon.

The opinions in this space represent a consensus of discussion by The Daily News Journal Editorial Board.